Under pressure, South Sudan agrees to 4,000 new peacekeepers

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, walks with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, right, and other visiting members of the UN Security Council in the capital Juba, South Sudan, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016. South Sudan has agreed to the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force approved by the U.N. Security Council after first rejecting the peacekeepers as a violation of its sovereignty. (AP Photo/Justin Lynch)
(The Associated Press)

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, center, and other members of the United Nations Security Council speak to displaced people living in a church in Wau, in northwestern South Sudan, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016. South Sudan has agreed to the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force approved by the U.N. Security Council after first rejecting the peacekeepers as a violation of its sovereignty. (AP Photo/Justin Lynch)
(The Associated Press)

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, takes members of the UN Security Council, including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, right, on a tour outside the presidential compound in the capital Juba, South Sudan, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016. South Sudan has agreed to the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force approved by the U.N. Security Council after first rejecting the peacekeepers as a violation of its sovereignty. (AP Photo/Justin Lynch)
(The Associated Press)

JUBA, South Sudan – South Sudan has agreed to the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force approved by the U.N. Security Council after first rejecting the peacekeepers as a violation of its sovereignty.

Sunday's announcement came after the visiting Security Council met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir.

The threat of an arms embargo loomed over the meeting, as the council has said it would pursue one if South Sudan didn't accept the peacekeepers.

Fighting that erupted in the capital, Juba, in July killed hundreds and sparked fears of a renewed civil war.

U.N. officials say the new force needs more than two months to deploy.

South Sudan also has committed to implementing a hybrid court to investigate war crimes, according to Sunday's joint statement by the government and the Security Council.